Crowd pays tribute to 'Worcester 6'

Tuesday

Dec 4, 2012 at 6:00 AMDec 4, 2012 at 8:05 PM

By Bronislaus B. Kush TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

A crowd of at least 300 gathered last night for the annual tribute to the six Worcester firefighters who gave up their lives 13 years ago battling the inferno at the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co. building.

The tribute was held at the parcel that once housed the mammoth and maze-like storage facility in which Firefighters Paul A. Brotherton, Jeremiah Lucey and Joseph T. McGuirk, and Lts. Thomas E. Spencer, James F. “Jay” Lyons and Timothy P. Jackson perished.

The Franklin Street site is now home to a firehouse, serving personnel assigned to Engine 6, Ladder 1 and Rescue 1.

“People will never forget what those men did all those years ago,” Mayor Joseph M. Petty said of the dead firefighters.

At 6:13 p.m. on Dec. 3, 1999, the men of Rescue 1, Ladder 2, and Engine 3 were, among a number of other units, dispatched to the giant building to investigate reports of smoke in the area.

Arriving emergency personnel were also told that homeless people were living in the structure.

The blaze quickly spread, fueled by the layout of the building and the flammable materials contained within.

“It was a terrible, terrible night,” said former Police Chief Edward P. Gardella.

Unlike 1999, the sky tonight was not filled with sheets of flame and clouds of smoke and people could actually see the stars.

There were no speeches or formal prayers. Folks gathered to remember the valor of the “Worcester Six.”

A pipe and drum contingent made up of members of the Worcester Fire Department and of firefighters from all around New England marched from the nearby Union Station to the fire site where they played a soulful rendition of “Amazing Grace.”

And though there were tears, many used the event to exchange happier remembrances about the dead firefighters. Some retired firefighters exchanged “hellos” with colleagues that they had not seen for years.

Somebody had placed red poinsettia branches within the arms of the kneeling firefighter statue that was constructed as a memorial in front of the firehouse.

Next to it was a one page letter written by Timothy P. Jackson Jr. to his deceased father. In it, he asked his dad if he was proud of him.

Mr. Jackson also told his father that, when he thought of him, he would remember the roar of the motorcycle that Firefighter Jackson loved to drive.

Robin Gabree, Firefighter Jackson's sister, said she still deeply misses her sibling.

“It still hurts,” said the Worcester woman of her loss. “But I'm pretty sure he's up there in heaven looking down on all of us.”